Shoe-turning machine.



' No. 851,737. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

A. BPPLBR, JE-

' SHOE TURNING MACHINE. APPLICATION-FILED APR-16, 1902. RENEWED AUG. 13, 1906.

Int/avatar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AN DREWV EPPLER, JR., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY OOMPAN Y, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEWV JERSEY.

SHOE-TURNING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

fatentect April 30, 1907.

Application filed April 16, 1902. Renewed August 13,1906. Serial No. 330,415.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW EPPLER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sl1oelurning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to shoe turning machines and more particularly to machines for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe which comprises a form and a plunger co-operating therewith to turn the rear or counter portion of a shoe over the form. Such machines as heretofore constructed have put a severe strain upon the upper during the turning operation often causing the seam or seams at the back of the upper to gap or rip and otherwise injuring the shoe and marring its appearance. For this reason machines for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe are very little used and this operation is now usually per formed by hand. The strain put upon the upper by machines as heretofore constructed is due to the binding of the upper on the form in being turned over the edge and pressed down inside of the form, and the object of the present invention is to prevent the binding of the upper onthe form and thereby produce a machine by which the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe can be quickly and easily turned without any liability of injuring the shoe.

I'Vith this object in view my invention contemplates the provision in a machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turned shoe, of a form and a co-operating plunger which move laterally with relation to each other during the turning operation. I have found that such relative movement of the form and plunger acts to ease the rear por tion of the upper which is doubled over the edge of the form, and that consequently the binding of the upper on the form during the latter portion of the turning operation which occurs in this type of machines as heretofore constructed, is effectually avoided.

l Broadly considered, the invention contemplates the provision of any suitable conthe form and plunger are caused to move latorally with relation to each other during the turning operation to relieve the strain on the upper. In the preferred form of the invention, however, mechanism is provided which acts to produce this relative movement, as by the use of such mechanism a machine is produced which is more efficient and reliable in operation.

My invention also contemplates providing a form of improved construction by which the binding of the upper on the form during the turning operation is also prevented. As to this feature of my invention, I desire to state that it is not limited to a shoe turning machine provided with means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the form and plunger during the turning operation and may be embodied in any shoe turning machine comprising a form and co-operating plunger.

In addition to the features of invention above referred to, my invention also consists in certain devices, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

A shoe turning machine embodying my in vention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the machine, and Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of reference indicate like parts, 1 indicates the form over which the rear or counter portion of the shoe is turned, and 2 the plunger co-operating therewith. The form is of the same general shape as the form which has heretofore been used in machines of this type. The rear wall of the form is, however, cut away below the upper edge to form a recess 3 into which the upper can bend during the turning operation. The rear wall of the form below its upper edge is that part of the form against which the upper binds in shoe turning machines as heretofore constructed, and by providing a recess in this struction and arrangement of parts whereby a wall a suflicient space is provided for the upper so that the binding of the upper on the form is avoided. An anti-friction roll 4 may be and preferably is journaled in the form at its rear upper edge.

The shank of the plunger 2 is clamped in the over-hanging end of a curved lever or arm 4 pivotally mounted at 5 between the side plates of the frame 6 which are bolted upon a suitable support 7. The lever 1 is swung upon its pivot to bring the plunger 2 into contact with the heel portion of the sole of a shoe upon the form 1 and to press such portion down into the form by means of a rod 8 connected to the lower end of the lever and to a foot treadle (not shown).

In order to imp art to the form and plunger a relative lateral movement during the turning operation, the machine illustrated in the drawings is provided with means for moving the form laterally toward the plunger after the plunger has entered the form and before it has completed its downward movement. These means as shown consist of a bell crank 9 pivoted at 10 to the frame 6, having the form 1. secured to the upper end of its vertical arm and having its horizontal arm connected to the lever 4 by a link 11.

The operation of the machine above described will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the preceding description and a separate description thereof is con sidered unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States.

1. A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe having, in combination, a form over which the shoe is turned, having a recess in its rear wall to prevent the upper binding on the form, and a plunger movable into and out of the form, substantially as described 2. A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe, having, in combination, a form over which the shoe is turned, a plunger movable into and outof the form, and means for moving the form laterally toward the plunger during the turning operation to relieve the strain on the upper, substantially as described.

3. A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe, having, in combination, a pivotally mounted support, a form mounted thereon over which the shoe is turned, a plunger movable into and out of the form, a lever upon which the plunger is mounted, and a link connecting the lever and the pivotally mounted support, substantially as described.

4. A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe, having, in combination, a form, a plunger co-operating therewith, the form and plunger being relatively movable to cause the plunger to turn the shoe ever the form, and means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the form and plunger during the turning operation to relieve the strain on the upper, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turn shoe, a form over which the shoe is turned provided with a recess in its rear wall to prevent the upper binding on the form, substantially as described.

6. A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turned shoe, having, in combination, a form and a plunger co-operating therewith, said form and plunger being movable laterally with relation to each other during the turning operation to relieve the strain on the upper, substantially as described.

7 A machine for turning the rear or counter portion of a turned shoe, having, in combination, a form over which the shoe is turned, and a plunger movable into and out of the form, said form being movable laterally with relation to the plunger during the turning operation to relieve the strain on the upper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

0 ANDREl/V EPPLER, J R.

Witnesses FRED O. Frsn, HoRAoE VAN EVEREN. 

